Saturday, October 8, 2016

Self-centered Prick

Gotcha!No, this isn't an article bashing Trump but it does have something to do with him. That "something" is a label that often brands those undeserving of it.It's a label that's often only a superficial representation of the myriad of perceived character flaws exhibited by those who at least on the surface fit the remark.I'll admit that I've felt the sting of it myself. The accusers used kinder terms like: arrogant, overconfident or entitled but that's only because they're uttered in mixed company. The real meaning is: Self-centered Prick.Did I deserve it? In their mind I did but it doesn't matter.Once you're branded as such, there's not much point in defending against it. To do so just proves the point to the prosecution.Maybe that's why Trump never apologizes. You can't admit a mistake without owning the flaw and as we all know, everything about Trump is, "Fabulous, never better."In Trump's case, yeah, if the shoe fits. But that opinion only comes after doing some research first and let's face it, the evidence isn't hard to find.But more to the point...I've leveled the barb myself and of course I was right to do so.....Uh Oh....maybe I am a self-centered Pr...Perception is rarely reality. We color our views with our own experience. Whatever we're going through now is viewed through that lens. Even if it's a family member, if something they're doing ( or NOT doing ) is affecting YOU in some way and they won't acknowledge it to your satisfaction, I can guarantee the phrase will at least briefly come to mind.Thing is, who's the bigger devil here? If you're only concerned with yourself how are you any better than the other guy? If you won't take the time to see things through their eyes, their experience and their beliefs then who's the real "prick?"I don't make excuses for people that deserve the charge like our Orange friend above. We're all products of our environments and if that's a negative thing and we don't try to change it then the label is deserved.But an attack is rarely left unanswered. The conflict only escalates and in our society conflict sells. We're encouraged into it and expected to make snap judgement without further reflection. It's a world with little more patience than the life of a paparazzi's flash bulb.Everything is black and white. You're guilty or not. No time for evidence or reflection. Why waste time moving past the first impression when it fits so neatly into our safe, uncomplicated view of the world.If there's anything from the Star Wars prequels I liked it was one quote. "Only a Sith deals in Absolutes" - Obi Wan KenobiSith's are bad people, you don't want to be a Sith. Nobody is completely right or wrong and by extension you know nothing about anybody if you don't bother to listen to them first.You have a right to an opinion, don't waste it with unilateral decisions based on petty evidence.